Indonesian girls win gold at Asian School C'ships

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian girls' team won the gold medal, while Thailand took the gold in the boys' team event at the first Asian School Championships held on Thursday at the Senayan tennis complex.

The Indonesian girls' squad defeated Thailand 3-0 to clinch the gold. Angelique Widjaja, 14, began the victorious run by defeating Cattaleeya Weserat 6-2, 6-1.

Compatriot Frederika Girsang upset Chattida Thimjapo 6-3, 6-1, who is ITF junior ranked 133, while doubles Mudarwati and Novianti Warsono completed the victory with their 6-2, 6-1 win over Karamontree Siriluethaiwattana and Khanita Sritawan.

The national boys' team bowed out to Thailand 1-2.

Irwan Radjab lost 1-6, 4-6 to Tientawi Promjrat, while Ferza Gautama spoiled his chance to tie after bowing out 2-6, 3-6 to Pacharapol Khamsaman.

Doubles Naharuddin and Prima Simpatiaji narrowed the score to 2-1 after working hard to overcome Sornsakul Supakit and Tara Tanthasuwanlert 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

Girls' coach Yosafat Sihombing said after the match that he was very satisfied with his team's performance at the championships.

"We applied the right strategy and our girls followed it through perfectly. I just boosted their motivation. They didn't need much of a pep talk to play so well," he said.

"I just told them to force the Thai girls to run all over the court, because I think they don't really like to run on the clay court. If they played hard against the Thais, they would have lost."

With six gold medals up for grabs in the championships, Indonesia still has the opportunity to add to it's tally.

Frederika and Angelique have chances for gold in the girls' singles, while Angelique and Novianti are top seeded in the doubles. In the boys' doubles, Naharuddin and Prima are the favorite to bring home the gold. (yan)